Martinelli and Saka equal Ronaldo and Rooney

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were the only positives for the Gunners as they dropped points for the third consecutive Premier League game to allow Manchester City back into the title race. 

The Gunners reversed their most recent trend, clawing back a two-goal deficit instead of throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home to bottom-of-the-table Southampton. 

Despite the disappointment, Arsenal were still able to record some positives as forwards Martinelli and Saka both got on the scoresheet to equal a record set by Manchester United greats Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

With Martinelli’s goal to pull one back for Arsenal at 2-1 against Southampton, the Brazilian, who turned 21 in June, claimed his 20th goal contribution in all competitions of the 2022/23 campaign and joined Saka, who turned 21 in September, as the only Arsenal player at the time to have reached 20 goal contributions this season. 

The goal meant that Saka and Martinelli became the first duo aged 21 or under in the Premier League to be directly involved in 20+ goals for the same club in the same season since Rooney and Ronaldo did so for Manchester United in the 2006/07 season. 

Saka who later grabbed Arsenal’s late equaliser against Southampton has now recorded 24 goal contributions this season in all competitions with 14 goals and 10 assists, while Martinelli has scored 15 goals and assisted five more.

Together they have propelled Arsenal towards a Premier League title challenge, but they will need to do more if the Gunners are to see off the challenge of Manchester City as the season draws to a close.